Commemorative Lecture by the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended a commemorative lecture delivered by the Hon. Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, at the First Members' Office Building of the House of Representatives.

The Prime Minister said in his address,

“It brings me great joy that the lecture by Prime Minister Wickremesinghe of Sri Lanka is being held on such a magnificent scale today.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe is an old friend of Japan, and I understand that this is his eighth visit to Japan. We exchanged views on Sunday when the Prime Minister attended the Science and Technology in Society (STS) forum in Kyoto, and I am truly pleased to be with him once again today.

This year, Japan marked the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. On this commemorative year, we must not forget that Japan owes much to Sri Lanka, which with its spirit of tolerance welcomed the first step that Japan took as a peace-loving nation.

The late President J.R. Jayewardene, who was a cousin of Prime Minister Wickremesinghe’s mother, delivered an address at the San Francisco Peace Conference in which he stated, ‘hatred ceases not by hatred, but by love.’ The late President Jayewardene disclaimed reparations from Japan, and advocated the maintenance of the sovereignty of Japan as well as its swift return to the international community.

It is unimaginable how grateful the Japanese people at the time must have been for this warm support which was extended to Japan, six years after the war when its scars had still not healed. Japan must make sure that this story is passed down through future generations as a page of history.

Thanks to Sri Lanka’s demonstration of its spirit of tolerance, Japan was able to pursue a new path. I imagine that appreciation of this was one of the reasons my grandfather, former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi, chose and visited Sri Lanka as the destination of his first overseas visit in Asia after World War II. Since then, Japan and Sri Lanka have deepened their friendship and have consistently forged friendly bilateral relations.

This year, for the first time in Sri Lankan history, a new government was inaugurated through a coalition of two major political parties following the holding of free, fair, and democratic presidential and general elections. Indeed, Sri Lanka is about to set on a new path under the leadership of Prime Minister Wickremesinghe. Japan is fully committed to supporting Sri Lanka’s endeavors, including partnership with the international community, economic development, and national reconciliation.

I am convinced that today’s commemorative lecture will further deepen the friendly relations between Japan and the people of the ‘shining country,’ Sri Lanka. I would like to conclude my remarks by once again expressing my deepest appreciation to Prime Minister Wickremesinghe. Thank you very much.”